Kuala Merotai UMNO members join DAP

DAP Sabah is slowly but surely gaining ground and popularity in Bumiputra areas in Sabah. On 13th February 2011 in Kuala Merotai which is about 20km from Tawau, UMNO Wanita Chief Puan Aisah Mohamad and her predominantly Tidong followers have decided to join DAP. Sdra Karim Jumaat handed over the application forms to DAP Sabah Secretary Dr. Edwin Bosi witnessed by DAP Sabah Chief and Sri Tanjung Assemblyman YB Jimmy Wong and Puan Aisah Mohamad.

During the dialogue session, the Tidong community here said that they have been forgotten by the UMNO and BN government. For example, the youths have been trying hard to establish a youth association but did not get the support from the BN leaders and the department handling youth affair. Karim who spoke on behalf of the youth said that they have lost confidence in UMNO and BN leaders.

A group of nine employees of the water department in Kuala Merotai said they have been recruited by the department but do not have any letter of appointment. They showed DAP leaders the payment vouchers issued by a company called AZ contractor which appears to exist on paper only. They said they have been working without EPF and SOCSO. The affected employees added that they have been working diligently to ensure the water consumed by the people is wholesome and safe. They too expressed disappointment that the government is not concerned about their plight.

Sdra Roslam who is self-employed with five small children to take care said their village has not seen any projects for a long time. He said the government has forgotten about them. There is not one house built under the PPRT while the e-Kasih program is selective. Roslam added that the e-Kasih program is best described as “pilih-Kasih”. The people nodded their heads in unison when he revealed that the new comers or “new Bumiputra” are given priority. He said many of our elders who are qualified for welfare assistance are not getting any help.

One of the saddest revelations is the status of their 621.25 acres of land which was promised to them by Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) since 1965 remains without any title. According to them, there are 71 settlers and each one was provided with 8.75 acres of land. In 1985, each settler paid about RM680.00 to SLDB to get the land surveyed. Today, the title is no way to be seen, they added. The settlers also claimed that they are paid a low price for their oil palm despite the high prevailing price of the commodity.

DAP Sabah Chief YB Jimmy Wong informed the people that they should be brave and stand up for their rights. He said, the two-party system is empowering the people. He told them that they have a choice of either voting in UMNO and BN who have proven to turn a deaf ear on their problems or put Pakatan Rakyat into office and gets a better treatment and solution to their problems. YB Jimmy assured the settlers that he will engage a lawyer for them and take their case with SLDB to court for failing to hand over their land titles which they believed to have been surveyed. Without the land titles the people are concerned that one day they will lose it to a company, where similar cases have been reported. They also feel that without the land title they are not able to improve financially.

In the spirit of Gong Xi Fa Chai, DAP Sabah presented mandarin oranges to the people. The children were handed “ang pau” by Puan Christina, wife of YB Jimmy Wong. The other DAP Sabah leaders present at the function were Vice Chairman Peter Liew, Treasurer Henry Mogindol, committee member and Merotai Chief Robert Penggai and the special assistant to YB Jimmy Tan Ah Fatt.

Caption 1. Picture shows Sdra Karim Jumaat handing over the membership application forms to DAP Sabah Secretary Dr Edwin Bosi witnessed by DAP Sabah Chief and Sri Tanjung Assemblyman YB Jimmy Wong, Kuala Merotai UMNO Wanita Chief Puan Aisah Moahamad and other DAP leaders.

Caption 2 shows DAP Sabah Chief and Sri Tanjung Assemblyman YB Jimmy Wong addressing the Tidong community in Kuala Merotai while DAP Sabah Secretary Dr Edwin Bosi (standing next to YB) and DAP Sabah MerotaI Chief Robert Penggai (seated) look on.